Reflector lamp



Nov. 23, 1943. N. w. BOSTEN ET AL 2,334,899

REFLECTOR LAMP Filed Jan. 16. 194;

/ZZ I & z i

INVENTORS Norman VV. Bosfen 6% Syo/oman ATT 0 RN E Y Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED/STATES PATENT OFFICE REFLECTOR LAMP Norman W. Bosten and Morris Solomon,

Los Angeles, Calif. I

Application January 16, 1942, Serial No. 427,008

, 2 Claims. (o .240-s1.12

This invention relates to a lamp structure, and more particularly to a compact, portable device that casts a powerful concentrated beam, and that may be used as a signaling light.

This application is a continuation in part of an application filed on October 13, 1941, in the names of Norman W; Bosten and Morris Solomon, under Serial No. 414,706, and entitled Reflector lamp.

In said prior application, there is described and claimed a combination of a resilient enclosure or housing, and an incandescent lamp in the housing, arranged so that the front wall of the lamp forms a lens and the rear wall formsa reflector. The structure also included a handle or grip attached to the housing, and appropriate switching means for controlling the energization of the lamp.

It is one of the objects of this invention to improve in general, the structure described in said prior application.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible effectively to use the device as a signaling medium, as by the provision of a convemently located push button switch.

The intense illumination projected by the device is particularly advantageous for use by airplane pilots. When the fuselage has a front glass visor or shield, the illumination is somewhat dispersed by the glass, especially when the lamp is held at a distance from the window. It is another object of the invention to make it possible to reduce this loss ofillumination, For this purpose, the device is arranged to be directly supported on the inside surface of the glass, asby a rubbersuction hood attached to the lamp. This hood has the additional advantage of preventing the flow of light to the interior of the plane. And the hood is made sufficiently resilient to provide for aiming oi the beam without disturbing the supporting functionof the hood.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this inventionis best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a lamp structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a pictorial view from the rear of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating the lamp in appropriate supported positionon a glass window or shield; Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken along plane 4-4 of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along plane 5-5 of Fig. 3; and.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the lamp.

The lamp structure includes a lamp unit i and a cover 2 therefor. The lamp unit I is of the sealed beam type. This sealed beam type of unit includes a glass envelope, the rear wall 3 of which is curved to form an internal reflecting surface 4. The front of the lamp unit I is formed with 'a convex translucent refractor or lens 5, The conductors to a filament in the unit I are sealed through the rear of the wall 3.

A flange I encircles the body of the unit I adjacent th translucent portion 5. It forms the place where parts of the glass envelope are joined together in sealing relationship. This flange I is in the form of an annular ring defining shoulders with the adjacent cylindrical portions 8 and 9 of the envelope.

In order to provide a practical upport and cover for the sealed beam unit I, the cover memher 2 is made of relatively thin resilient rubber. This cover member 2 closely contacts the external surface of the wall 3. It is also provided with an annular band portion Ill integrally joined to the main portion of the cover 2 and shaped to conform with the external surfaces of the flange I and of the cylindrical portions 8 and 9. This resilient cover 2 can thus be slipped over the unit I and this unit will be held firmly and resiliently in place by the engagement of the flange I with the band Ill.

The lamp structure may be effectively used by airplane pilots to signal by the aid of light while the airplane is in flight; or for finding or illuminating objects exterior of the airplane. Under such circumstances it is highly desirable that the interior of the plane be left unilluminated and also that illumination from the lamp I be not dispersed or otherwise dissipated through the enclosing window.

In order to effect this result, use is made oi a resilient rubber bell or hood 3|. This bell 3i is adhered over the flange III of cover 2. The bell or hood 3| is of general cylindrical form and made of readily yieldable rubber. Any appropriate adhering means can be employed between the contacting parts of the bell or hood 3| and the flange ID.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bell or hood 3| has a front edge so that it can be held by suction on the inside surface of the glass pane 32, as for example the observation window of the airplane. The hood thus seals the space defined by it and the housing 2, rendering the suction effective. The hood is furthermore capable of being distorted as illustrated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 3 so as to permit aiming the beam of light, by appropriate manipulation of a handle or grip, to be hereinafter described.

The bell or hood 3| thus serves eifectively to prevent transmission of illumination toward the rear of the device. All of the illumination is confined to the beam which is projected through the window 32.

The rear portion of the cover 2 is extended as a generally cylindrical housing H shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

, E3 of which is indicated in Fig. 3.

The cylindrical housing portion I! also serves to support a control switch l4 placed adjacent the rear wall I5 of the housing member 5 i. This A manufrom the readily be operated by the fingers of a user who may, as hereinafter-explained, support the entire unit by the hand. i

It 'is often desirable to make it possible to energize and deenergize the filament of lamp 1 more rapidly than would be possible by the aid of the manually operable member [8. This is especially useful if it in definite sequence for signaling purposes.

Accordingly for this purpose a supplemental finger button switch wall of the cylindrical portion l I. most clearly in Fig. 16, this push button switch parallels the switch l4. By alternate depressing and release of the button of this switch, light signals can be transmitted. The button is noron the control button to keep the lamp circuit closed.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the barrel of the switch 33 can extend through the cylindrical portion H and its terminals are then available for connection to the other elements of the system.

The entire lamp structure may be supported by the aid of a hand grip l9. This hand grip is shown as extending below the housing portion I l The grip may be formed as a conveniently formed pistol grip, also molded from rubber. It may .be joined to and supported by the cover 2 by the aid of a cylindrical projection 20 (Figs. 3 and 5) extending .into an appropriately is desired to flash the lamp formed aperture 2| in the lower portion 22 of the housing II. This lower portion 22 may be thickened for the accommodation of the projection 20 as indicated in Fig. 5. Appropriate adhesion may be secured be tween this portion of the grip l9 and the cover 2.

External leads for completing the circuit of the lamp extend through the grip IS. The grip I9 is provided with a longitudinal aperture 23 extending entirely through the projection 20 and substantially to the bottom of the grip l9. This aperture is lined by a thin metallic tube 24. The interior passage of the tube 24 connects with a comprising ,a radially extending post or lug L be transmitted,a resilient rubber cover closely fitting and breaking the seal.

'2. In a portable lamp structure, an electric lamp of the incandescent filament type, said lamp attached to said cover and extending completely fluid sealed space formed by the wall, the hood around the flange-contacting portion of the cover, and said transparent portion, said hood having and projecting forwardly of the translucent porsuch flexibility as will permit moving the envelope tion of the envelope, said hood having a forward by aid of the grip to alter the direction of illumiedge capable of contacting a wall surface, said 5 nation without breaking the seal.

hood being so connected to the cover that contact NORMAN W. BOSTEN.

of said edge with a wall surface can provide a MORRIS SOLOMON. 

